User interface for backup management

ABSTRACT

Methods and a computer program product for providing a user interface including earlier versions of data. In one implementation, a method is provided. The method includes receiving, while a current view is displayed in a user interface, a first user input requesting that a backup interface be displayed. In response to the first user input, the transition from displaying the current view in the user interface to displaying the backup interface is animated. The backup interface is displayed including a display area for presenting at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the current view, where the earlier version includes a first element. While the backup interface is displayed, a second user input is received requesting that the current view be modified according to the earlier version. In response to the second user input, the current view is modified according to the earlier version.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part application of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/499,881, filed on Aug. 4, 2006. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed implementations relate generally to storing and restoring digital data.

BACKGROUND

Modem graphical user interfaces allow a large number of graphical objects or items to be displayed on a display screen at the same time. Operating systems, such as Apple Mac OS®, provide user interfaces in which a number of windows can be displayed, overlapped, resized, moved, configured, and reformatted according to the needs of a user or a particular application. Taskbars, menus, virtual buttons and other user interface elements provide mechanisms for accessing and activating windows even when they are hidden behind other windows.

With the sophisticated tools available, users are encouraged not only to create and save a multitude of items in their computers, but also to revise or otherwise improve on them over time. For example, a user can work with a certain file and thereafter save its current version on a storage device. The next day, however, the user could have had second thoughts about the revisions, or could have come up with new ideas, and therefore opens the file again.

The revision process is usually straightforward if the user wants to add more material to the file or make changes to what is there. However, it is typically more difficult for a user to revert a file back to an earlier state if the user has changed his/her mind about modifications that were previously made. Application programs for word processing typically let the user “undo” previous edits of a text, at least up to a predefined number of past revisions. The undo feature also usually is configured so that the previously made revisions must be undone in reverse chronological order; that is, the user must first undo the most recently made edit, then the second-most recent one, and so on. If the user saves and closes the document and thereafter opens it again, it may not be possible to undo automatically any previous edits.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods for providing a user interface including earlier versions of data are provided. In particular, a user interface having a display area including a number of visual representations of earlier views (e.g., snapshots) is provided. The earlier views can represent earlier states of data such as files, folders, application data, preferences, and other system data. The user can navigate between earlier views as well as within the earlier views. Navigation and actions can be animated. Transitions to and from the user interface can be animated.

In general, in one aspect, a method is provided. The method includes receiving, while a current view is displayed in a user interface, a first user input requesting that a backup interface be displayed. In response to the first user input, the transition from displaying the current view in the user interface to displaying the backup interface is animated. The backup interface is displayed including a display area for presenting at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the current view, where the earlier version includes a first element. While the backup interface is displayed, a second user input is received requesting that the current view be modified according to the earlier version, at least with regard to the first element. In response to the second user input, the current view is modified according to the earlier version, at least with regard to the first element.

Implementations can include one or more of the following features. Animating the transition can include animating a sliding of the user interface by simultaneously displaying decreasing portions of a first representation of the user interface while displaying increasing portions of a second representation of the backup interface. The current view can be animated not to slide with the user interface. Animating the transition can include animating the disappearance of the user interface and the current view into a vortex, where a first representation of the user interface is animated to move independently of a second representation of the current view. The method can include displaying the modified current view in the user interface, where the modified current view includes the first element of the earlier version. The method can include animating the transition from displaying the backup interface to displaying the modified current view in the user interface.

In general, in one aspect, a method is provided. The method includes defining criteria for capturing a state of a view of a user interface. The state of the view is captured in accordance with the criteria. A prompt is received to suspend presentation of a current view and present a captured view. The transition from presenting the current view to presenting the captured view is animated. The captured view is presented in a backup interface. The backup interface includes a display area for presenting a first visual representation and one or more second visual representations. The first visual representation corresponds to a current version of a current view. Each of the one or more second visual representations corresponds to an earlier version of the current view. The captured view is reinstated into the current view of the user interface.

In general, in one aspect, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product generates on a display device a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface includes a display area for presenting a first visual representation and one or more second visual representations. The first visual representation corresponds to a current version of a current view. Each of the one or more second visual representations corresponds to an earlier version of the current view. The graphical user interface includes a calendar with a plurality of date ranges, where each version of the current view is associated with a date range of the plurality of date ranges. The graphical user interface includes an input control for initiating a restoration of the current view according to at least a portion of an earlier version.

Implementations can include one or more of the following features. Each earlier version can include at least a first element that a user can select; and initiation of the input control after the selection can initiate the restoration of the current view according to only the first element of the earlier version. An earlier version can be selectable in response to a user input of the associated date range. Each date range can be a single date. Each date range can be represented by a tick mark in the calendar.

The graphical user interface can include one or more scroll bars for scrolling through the plurality of date ranges, including scrolling to additional date ranges not initially shown in the calendar. The graphical user interface can include another input control for modifying the display area to present only at least one of the second visual representations whose corresponding earlier version differs from the current version of the current view. The graphical user interface can include arrow buttons for scrolling to additional visual representations of earlier versions not initially shown in the display area. The graphical user interface can include another input control for canceling a restoration of the current view. The display area can present the visual representations as a stack of snapshots. The graphical user interface can include a date display, where the date display displays a date range associated with a version corresponding to a visual representation at the front of the stack.

In general, in one aspect, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product generates on a display device a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface includes a display area for presenting a first visual representation and one or more second visual representations. The visual representations are presented as a stack. The first visual representation corresponds to a current version of a current view. Each of the one or more second visual representations corresponds to an earlier version of the current view. The graphical user interface includes a date display overlay, where the date display overlay is displayed in proximity to a visual representation at the front of the stack. The date display overlay displays a date range associated with a version corresponding to the visual representation at the front of the stack. The graphical user interface includes an input control for initiating a restoration of the current view according to at least a portion of an earlier version. The date display overlay can fade over time.

Particular embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented to realize one or more of the following advantages. Backup data can be stored, allowing a user to retrieve past states of applications or data. The user can easily navigate a set of visual representations of the earlier views. The user interface provides an intuitive navigation and restore environment for finding and restoring earlier versions of data.

The details of the various aspects of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of interactions with a backup component for backing up, searching, or restoring system information.

FIG. 3 is a screen shot depicting an example of a backup user interface including search results within a search application.

FIG. 4 is a screen shot depicting an example of a backup user interface including an item timeline associated with a file within the search results from the search application.

FIG. 5 is a screen shot depicting an example of a backup user interface including an item timeline associated with a folder within the search results from the search application.

FIG. 6 is a screen shot depicting an example of a snapshot calendar timeline.

FIG. 7 is a screen shot depicting an example of a snapshot stack timeline.

FIG. 8 is a screen shot depicting an example of a snapshot book timeline.

FIGS. 9-14 are screen shots depicting an example of a snapshot animation timeline.

FIGS. 15-22 are screen shots depicting an example of a slider animation during a launching and exiting procedure of a backup user interface.

FIGS. 23-27 are screen shots depicting an example of a vortex animation during a launching procedure of a backup user interface.

FIG. 28 is a screen shot depicting an example of a stack of snapshots in a backup user interface with a date overlay.

FIG. 29 is a screen shot depicting an example of a stack of snapshots in a backup user interface including a calendar sidebar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system 100. The system 100 can allow a user to search a captured version of an interface view, perhaps to initiate a restoration based on it. As used herein, a view refers to an item, element, or other content, capable of being stored and/or retrieved in an interface, which can be subjected to a backup operation by a backup component 117. For example, a user interface view can contain any number of icons, files, folders, application state information and/or machine state information, preferences, etc.

The system 100 includes a personal computer 102 communicatively coupled to a remote server 107 via a network interface 116 and a network 108 (e.g., local area network, wireless network, Internet, intranet, etc.). The computer 102 generally includes a processor 103, memory 105, one or more input devices 114 (e.g., keyboard, mouse, etc.), and one or more output devices 115 (e.g., a display device). A user interacts with the system 100 via the input and output devices 114, 115. The system 100 includes various hardware elements. The system 100 can include hardware, software, and combinations of the two.

The computer 102 also includes a local storage device 106 and a graphics module 113 (e.g., a graphics card) for storing information and generating graphical objects, respectively. The local storage device 106 can be a computer-readable medium. The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any medium that includes data and/or participates in providing instructions to a processor for execution, including without limitation, a machine-readable storage device such as non-volatile media (e.g., optical or magnetic disks) and volatile media (e.g., memory). The computer-readable medium also includes transmission media. Transmission media includes, without limitation, coaxial cables, copper wire, fiber optics, and computer buses. Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic, light or radio frequency waves.

While modifications of a user interface view are described herein with respect to a personal computer 102, it should be apparent that the disclosed implementations can be incorporated in, or integrated with, any electronic device that has a user interface, including without limitation, portable and desktop computers, servers, electronics, media players, game devices, mobile phones, email devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), embedded devices, televisions, other consumer electronic devices, etc.

Systems and methods are provided for searching stored contents that correspond to earlier versions of system information, application information, or system, application, or user interface state. The systems and methods can be stand-alone or otherwise integrated into a more comprehensive application. In the materials presented below, integrated systems and methods are provided for viewing and modifying an interface view (e.g., a user interface view).

Though discussion is made with reference to modifying a user interface view, those of ordinary skill will recognize that such a view can be based on various data structures, files, processes, and other aspects of information management. It follows that modification to file structures, data and the like is also contemplated in order to achieve the modification to the user interface view. In other words, while the restoration of the user interface view from one state to another can be the most apparent change from the user's perspective, this is accomplished through the corresponding changes in the underlying system content.

One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the engines, methods, processes and the like that are described can themselves be an individual process or application, part of an operating system, a plug-in, an application, or the like. In one implementation, the system and methods can be implemented as one or more plug-ins that are installed and run on the personal computer 102. The plug-ins are configured to interact with an operating system (e.g., MAC OS® X, WINDOWS XP, LINUX, etc.) and to perform the various functions, as described below.

A system and method for modifying a user interface view can also be implemented as one or more software applications running on the computer 102. Such a system and method can be characterized as a framework or model that can be implemented on various platforms and/or networks (e.g., client/server networks, wireless networks, stand-alone computers, portable electronic devices, mobile phones, etc.), and/or embedded or bundled with one or more software applications (e.g., email, media player, browser, etc.).

The computer 102 includes the backup component 117 that allows for the storage of versions of the computer's files or other items (e.g., restoring a view including past state of a file, application, application data, parameters, settings, and the like), for example within the local storage 106 or in an external storage repository. In one implementation, the backup component 117 also allows a user to select any of the stored versions and use it to initiate a restoration of backup data corresponding to that version in the computer 102.

In some implementations, the computer 102 can include a search component 118 that allows for searches of the computer's files or other items, for example within the local storage 106 or an external storage repository. In one implementation, the search component 118 can interact with the backup component 117 to perform searches of stored versions of the computer's files and other items. Particularly, in one implementation, the search component 118 provides that a user can select search results identified in an earlier version and use them to initiate a restoration of that version in the computer 102. This means that when a user searches for a file but the file is not found, the user can invoke the backup component 117 (or a portion thereof) to show one or more previous states of the C: drive or some other system resource. In other words, the user is looking at the content of the C: drive (that does not currently hold the sought file), and launches the backup component to look at previous states to see if the file has been archived. This operation can be facilitated by the search environment forwarding information (e.g., an identity of the sought file) to the backup environment for showing the correct archive(s).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example architecture 200 for the back up and restoration of data. The data can include, e.g., application files, application data, settings, parameters or the like, such as those associated with a set of applications 228. The backup component 117 provides back up and restoration capability for the system 100. Many different items or elements can be the subject of a backup operation in the system 100. For example, folders, files, items, information portions, directories, images, system parameters, playlists, address books, e-mails, e-mail folders, a state of an application or state of the system, preferences (e.g., user or system preferences), and the like all can be candidates for archiving. Other types of data can be included in backup operations.

In this example, the backup component 117 includes a local storage device 204 and an external storage device 232. Backup data can be stored on either of them. Any number of local and/or external storage devices can be used by the backup component 117 for storing backup data corresponding to the versions. In one implementation, no local storage is provided. In one implementation, the backup component 117 stores the backup data in a format corresponding to a file system structure.

In one implementation, one copy of original data (e.g., folders, files, items, information portions, directories, images, system parameters, playlists, address books, e-mails, e-mail folders, application states, preferences, and the like) is stored in the system as backup data (e.g., an original version of the data). When one or more subsequent sets of backup data, or versions, of the data are generated through subsequent backup operations, the backup data can contain only the differences between a current data version and the prior backup data, thereby saving storage space. In some implementations, the storage devices 204 and 232 can be used to store the original backup data as well as links pointing to the original backup data. The links can be hard links which reference, or point to, physical data, or as another example can be symbolic links that reference another file on the storage device (e.g., by name or location).

In one implementation, the backup component 117 runs as a background task on an operating system 230, where the task is generally not visible to the user. The backup component 117 can be configured to run across multiple user accounts. In another implementation, the backup component 117 runs within an application 228 in the user space.

The backup component 117 includes an activity monitoring engine 212. In one implementation, the activity monitoring engine 212 monitors for changes within an application view (e.g., application files or state) that are targeted for inclusion in backup operations. A change can also include the addition of new files or data (e.g., files or other data structures) or deletion of the same.

In one implementation, the activity monitoring engine 212 is capable of discerning between a substantive change (e.g. the text within a document has been modified) and a non-substantive change (e.g. the play count within an iTunes playlist has been updated, or several changes cancel each other out) through its interaction with the applications 228. The activity monitoring engine 212 can create, for example, a list of modified elements (e.g., files) to be used when a backup operation is eventually triggered. In one implementation, the activity monitoring engine 212 can monitor the system for periods of inactivity. The activity monitoring engine 212 can then trigger a backup operation during a period of time in which the backup operation will not cause a system slowdown for an active user.

A preference management engine 214 specifies some operating parameters of the backup component 117. In one implementation, preference management engine 214 contains user-specified and/or system default application parameters for the backup component 117. These can include settings for the details of capturing and storing the views. For example, the preference management engine 214 can determine the frequency of the backup operations, the storage location for the backup data, the types of elements (e.g. files or other items) that are eligible for inclusion in backup operations, and the events which trigger a backup operation (periodic or event-driven, etc.).

In one implementation, the preference management engine 214 can detect when a new storage device is being added to the system and prompt the user to specify whether it should be included as a backup repository. Files and other items can be scheduled for a backup operation based on location (e.g. everything on lettered drives such as C: drive and within D:/photos, or named drives such as “MyBigDisk” drive or within named directories such as within “/ExtraStorage/Photos”, thus reference in this specification to drives is not limited to lettered drives or paths), a correlation with specific applications (e.g. all pictures, music, e-mail in an inbox, an address book and system settings), or a combination of strategies. Different types of items can be scheduled to be stored on different devices or on different segments of a storage device during a backup operation.

A backup management engine 216 coordinates the collection, storage, and retrieval of views performed by the backup component 117. For example, the backup management engine 216 can trigger the activity monitoring engine 212 to watch for activities that satisfy a requirement specified in the preference management engine 214 for initiating a backup operation.

A change identifying engine 218 locates specific elements (e.g., monitored files or other items within) the system 200 to determine if they have changed. The change identifying engine 218 can be capable of discerning a substantive change from a non-substantive change, similar to the example described above for the activity monitoring engine 212. In one implementation, the change identifying engine 218 traverses a target set of elements (e.g., files, data, or other items), comparing a previous version to the current version to determine whether or not a modification has occurred.

A backup capture engine 220 locates views (e.g., elements, files, data, or other items) that are to be included in a backup. The backup capture engine 220 can invoke the activity monitoring engine 212 and/or the change identifying engine 218, for example, to generate a capture list identifying data to be included in a next backup operation. The backup capture engine 220 can then store copies of the listed data in one or more targeted storage repositories. The backup capture engine 220 can track multiple versions of the data included in the backup repository.

The backup component 117 includes a backup restoration engine 222 to restore previous versions of views (e.g., files, data, or other items). In one implementation, the backup restoration engine 222 provides a user interface (e.g., a graphical user interface) where a user can select the item(s) to be restored.

The backup component 117 includes an animation management engine 234. The animation management engine 234 performs or otherwise manages animations occurring within a user interface generated by the backup component 117. For example, the animation management engine 234 can animate a timeline of captured earlier versions stored by the backup component 117. Such animation can give an overview of the archive data that is available and can help a user choosing a particular backup version to restore.

The search component 118 can search directly within the one or more applications 228 for a current state or version of the files or other items. In addition, the search component 118 can search earlier versions of the files and other items using the backup component 117. For example, the search component 118 can provide a search interface within a backup user interface that allows searches of earlier versions of the files or other items. In addition, the search component 118 can provide a search interface within a user interface (e.g., a desktop user interface) that allows searches of the current version of the files or other items.

For example, the search component 118 can be used to initiate a search to find a particular item or element, such as an image file. If this search finds the sought item, and if the item meets the user's expectations, there may be no need to do any further searching at that time. However, if the search does not find the sought item, or if the item that is found does not meet the user's expectations, the user can choose to perform a search of historical views. The user can activate the backup user interface to search the historical views.

FIG. 3 is a screen shot depicting an example of a backup user interface 300 including search results within a search application 301. In certain implementations, the search component 118 generates the search application 301. The backup user interface 300 can be a conventional user interface as can be provided by an operating system. The backup user interface 300 has a background, a timeline 302, snapshots 304 a-d, and can include windows, icons, and other elements. As used herein, a snapshot refers to a backup element stored in an archive that includes a backup of selected items or content as specified by the backup component 117. The backup user interface 300 can have multiple applications running, any or all of which can be presented in a separate window. In other implementations, the backup user interface presents previous versions of data other than in a search application. For example, the backup user interface can present previous versions of a file system, particular application states, preferences, settings, etc.

The search application 301 allows a user to select one or more search controls and search parameters that specify a search for files or items to be presented in a search results area 306. A user can select a particular location, for example within the local storage device 204 or the external storage device 232, where the search will be performed, such as a server, the computer 102, a home folder, or another location. Here, a user has selected an “Animals” folder location, as indicated at the top of the search application 301. In addition, a navigation area 310 allows a user to navigate to a location within the selected search location. A search phrase control 311 allows a user to input a search phrase to be included in the search. For example, the search application 301 can identify any titles, content, or metadata that contains the search phrase “cats.”

In addition to the search application 301, the backup interface 300 here includes the timeline 302 and various function buttons (described below). The timeline 302 includes snapshots representing the results of performing the current search on an earlier version of system contents that have been backed up. In this particular example, the timeline 302 presents a date beneath each snapshots 304 a-d indicating the date of the contents on which that search was performed. In certain implementations, the snapshots 304 a-d shown in the timeline 302 represent only versions where some change has been made in the items since they were last backed up, such as a modification to a file or a system setting. In other implementations, the date does not necessarily refer to a single day, but can include a range of days. Alternatively, the date can represent less than a day, such as a particular hour at which the snapshot was taken.

The timeline 302 can include a number of snapshots representing searches performed on earlier versions or states of the files or items that have been backed up. Each snapshot provides a screenshot representation of the earlier versions of the files or items at a particular point in time that are responsive to the search. In some implementations, the timeline 302 includes a visual representation of the search results screen, such as a miniature version. The timeline 302 can appear, for example, across the top portion of the backup interface 300 (as shown). Alternatively, the timeline 302 may not appear in the top portion of the backup interface 300 until a user moves their cursor to (or otherwise activates) the top portion of the interface. In other implementations, the timeline is represented by a stack of snapshots as described below.

The backup user interface 300 can also include function controls. For example, the interface 300 can include arrow buttons 307 a and 307 b to navigate forward or backward in the snapshots; currently Aug. 17, 2005 is selected. Arrow buttons 308 a and 308 b operate a scroll bar 309 that allows the user to navigate to additional snapshots not visible in the timeline, thus there can be a large number of snapshots from which to select.

The search application 301 also includes a search phrase of “cats” in the search phrase control 311. The navigation area 310 shows sub-folders of the selected “Animals” folder. The search application 301 can present search results in the search results area 306 for a search performed using a currently selected snapshot. The search results area 306 presents a list of items 312 a-r satisfying the search conditions (i.e., being in the folder “Animals” and including the phrase “cats”). These results are represented by a currently selected snapshot 304 b, as indicated by dashed line 314. The timeline 302 indicates that these results were obtained from searching an archived version of contents dated Aug. 17, 2005. Each of the items 312 a-r can be represented by an identifier, such as a name or an icon, and/or can include a representation of the contents of the item, such as a thumbnail picture. A user can change the search by adding, removing, or modifying search controls.

In one example, a user can search for a file in a particular drive of a computer. Upon the search not locating the file, the user can initiate the backup user interface to view the contents of the drive at various times in the past. After selecting a particular snapshot representing the state of the drive at some point in the past, the results of the search are updated based on the selected snapshot. For example, the results now indicate whether the sought file is in the selected snapshot. If the file is there, the user can restore the file from the snapshot search results.

In another example, a user can restore system preference information, e.g., Internet security settings (e.g., the user has discovered that the current security conditions are inadequate and wishes to return to a safer security configuration). The user searches for the security setting and then activates the backup user interface. Previous security settings can be presented in the search results as the user selects snapshots representing backed up information for earlier settings. The user can select one or more desired security settings in a particular search result and restore them to the current security settings.

In another example, a user can restore a playlist in a music file management program, such as the iTunes application available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. The user opens the iTunes application and performs a search for a particular playlist. Upon the search results being presented, the user can determine that the current playlist identified in the search contains songs that are too modern for his or her current tastes. The user can activate the backup user interface and view the results of performing this search on the backed up contents ranging from the current and to a point of time in the past, say within the last few years. After receiving the search results from the earlier playlist versions, the user can select one of the playlists from the past and restore it to the present state of iTunes.

A restore button 316, when selected, restores the current system state with the files or items in the presented search results. In some implementations, this exits the backup user interface 300. A user can select one or more items in the search results and then select the restore button 316 to modify the current version of the item or items selected, if such a version exists, or otherwise to restore the file or item to the current state. For example, the user can select the Tabby Cat item 312 n, thereby triggering the restore button to display a more precise message, such as “restore item.” Restoration of the items involves the retrieval of the item from the archive, and instantiation in the current environment. For example, a file can be retrieved from an archive folder and placed in its current folder, where it is accessible to a user; a system preference (e.g., a time zone or language setting) can be retrieved from an archive and restored as a current system preference that affects the system operation in some regard; or an address book can be restored such that contacts existing in the archived address book are returned to a current address book.

Selecting the Tabby Cat item 312 n can trigger corresponding selections of that respective file in others of the presented snapshots 304 a-d. As another example, selection of the Tabby Cat item 312 n can, in certain implementations, result in the timeline 302 highlighting those snapshots where the Tabby Cat item 312 n differs from the selected snapshot 304 b. Here, the snapshot 304 d is highlighted as indicated by a highlighting border 317 and the text “Change.”

An information button 318 provides information regarding the selected snapshot. In one implementation, selecting the information button 318 opens a panel display. The panel display provides, in one implementation, information including the date and time the snapshot was made, the location of actual contents in a snapshot, the size of the snapshot, and a comment section.

A close button 320 can be selected to exit the backup user interface 300 and return the user to a desktop or other application. In some implementations, the backup user interface 300 can automatically exit upon restoring a particular snapshot. In other implementations, the backup user interface 300 can be minimized for purposes of navigating to other applications, such as an email application or a web browser.

In one implementation, the backup user interface 300 includes a preview button 323. The preview button, when selected, presents a preview of a selected item or element of a snapshot. For example, if a user selecting an image item in the folder, such as Tabby Cat 312 n, selects the preview button 323, an image preview can be presented to the user within the backup user interface 300. The user can use the preview function to verify that the item is the item (or the version of the item) that the user wants to restore. In one implementation, the item can be a document. The preview function button allows the user to view the document without invoking the underlying application (e.g., a work processing application). In one implementation, the preview can change as the user selects different versions of the item. For example, a user can preview a particular slide (e.g., slide 8) of an item that includes a slide presentation. The user can then select different versions of the presentation from the timeline. The preview changes with each selected earlier version to show the version of the same slide in the presentation (e.g., displays slide 8 for each selected version of the presentation).

In some implementations, the user can select an item timeline icon 322 to open a timeline view of snapshots, which can present information about one or more snapshots and optionally facilitate navigation to any snapshot. In some implementations, the timeline view can be toggled off and on using the item timeline icon 322. Here, the user initiates the timeline view using the timeline icon 322 and the information view using the information button 318.

FIG. 4 is a screen shot depicting an example of the backup user interface 300 including an item timeline 402 and snapshot information 403 associated with search results in the search application 301. The snapshot information 403 includes the date and time that the snapshot 304 b was taken, the location of the snapshot 304 b, the method used to take the snapshot 304 b (e.g., manually requested or scheduled automatically), the application used to take the snapshot 304 b, the size of the snapshot 304 b, and comments associated with the snapshot 304 b. In other implementations, the information 403 can present different characteristics of the snapshot.

The item timeline 402 indicates that, for the selected Tabby Cat item 312 n, there are seven different sets of results in the 56 available snapshots. That is, in this implementation, there are 56 snapshots available that correspond to system states or contents at different times, and seven of these have been identified in the search.

The item timeline 402 presents a list 404 of the resulting snapshots. The list 404 includes the date of the snapshot as well as an indication of the type of change that was made, such as creation or modification. The item timeline 402 allows a user to see when the responsive contents were captured and what type of change was made for each time or date. For example, the list 404 shows that the current version of this item 312 n is dated Aug. 23, 2005, and that the currently selected version (in bold) is from Aug. 17, 2005. The next entry in the timeline is the Jul. 27, 2005 version, wherein the corresponding snapshot 304 d is also marked with the highlighting 317. In contrast, the snapshot 304 c does not include a changed version of this item compared to the currently selected one, and is therefore neither listed in the item timeline 402 nor marked with the highlighting 317. In other implementations, different information can be presented, such as a number of changes made.

A user can select a snapshot in the list 404 to navigate to that snapshot. The search application 301 then presents, in the search results area 306, a result of the search performed on the corresponding contents. In certain implementations, the item timeline 402 is transparent or semi-transparent allowing windows, applications, or the backup interface 300 to be at least partly visible through the item timeline 402.

In this implementation, the timeline 402 shows only those of the snapshot search results that are different from the current version. That is, the timeline 402 shows all snapshots that match the search, except those whose corresponding earlier state is identical to the current state. In other implementations, the timeline 402 can show multiple backed up versions of the item.

A user can modify the search conditions in the search application 301 to obtain a different set of results in the search results area 306. In an example that will now be described, the user can remove the search phrase “cats” from the search phrase control 311 to see a list of all items for the “Animals” folder.

FIG. 5 is a screen shot depicting an example of the backup user interface 300 including an item timeline 502 associated with a folder within the search application 301. The search application 301 has performed a search on the “Animals” folder with no search phrase. The results of the search include three folders 504 a-c immediately within the “Animals” folder. A user can select one of the folders 504 a-c to view its contents or to make it the active selection in the item timeline 502. Here, no items are selected in the search results area 306. Therefore, the item timeline 502 shows a list 506 of earlier versions of the parent “Animals” folder. Here, the listed versions are those that have some difference compared to the currently selected snapshot (i.e., they represent “changes” from it). The item timeline 502 also indicates that there are 14 snapshots having changes within the “Animals” folder and that the total number of snapshots is 56.

The backup user interface 300 also includes a control 508 for selecting another timeline presentation. The control 508 allows a user to select for presentation a different representation of a snapshot timeline than the timeline 302 shown here. The user can choose from a snapshot calendar timeline, a snapshot stack timeline, a snapshot book timeline, or a snapshot animation timeline, to name a few examples. In certain implementations, the control 508 can provide a menu for selecting between available presentation modes or formats. In an alternative implementation, only particular users are allowed to change presentation modes. For example, an administrative user may select a presentation mode for all user accounts on the system, which individual users cannot change. Alternatively, user accounts can include individual/group permissions allowing particular users to modify the presentation mode. In another implementation, the presentation mode is fixed (e.g., control 508 is not present). Examples of the calendar, stack, book, and animation timelines will now be described with respect to FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9-12, respectively.

FIG. 6 is a screen shot depicting an example of a snapshot calendar timeline 600. The snapshot calendar timeline 600 shown here shows snapshots for a particular month. In other implementations, other time periods, such as weekly, bimonthly, or quarterly, can be used. In addition, a combination of time periods can be used to present snapshot timeline information, such as dynamically changing the time interval as a user traverses the snapshots based on the frequency of the snapshots.

Days for which a snapshot was taken are provided with a snapshot image or thumbnail in the calendar timeline 600. For example, snapshots 602 a-c were taken on a weekly basis (e.g., on Wednesday of each week during the month of August). Snapshot 604 represents the current state of the system or a most recent snapshot of the system. A user can select one of the snapshots to make it the active snapshot in, for example, the search application 301. As shown, the snapshot 602 c is currently the active snapshot in the application 301, as indicated by bold line 606. A user can select the controls 307 a-b to navigate forward and backward through the snapshots.

FIG. 7 is a screen shot depicting an example of a snapshot stack timeline 700. In certain implementations, the stack 700 is configured to operate analogously to a deck of cards. The top card shows the results of the search in the search application 301 for the selected snapshot. The date, Aug. 17, 2005, of the selected snapshot is shown below the search application 301.

A user can move forward or backward through the stack 700 using the controls 307 a-b. For example, if a user selects the control 307 a a previous snapshot 702 can be selected and brought to the top of the stack 700. If, on the other hand, a user selects the control 307 b a next snapshot 704 on the bottom of the stack 700 can be selected and brought to the top. Alternatively, a user can select the snapshot 702 (or the snapshot 704) directly using a pointing device.

In certain implementations, the movement of the snapshots can be animated. For example, the movement of the next snapshot 704 from the bottom of the stack 700 to the top can be shown. In addition, a top snapshot can be shown moving to the bottom, revealing the previous snapshot 702.

FIG. 8 is a screen shot depicting an example of a snapshot book timeline 800. In certain implementations, the book 800 can function analogously to a hard copy book having paper pages. The page on the right shows the results of the search in the search application 301 for the selected snapshot. The date (e.g., Aug. 17, 2005) of the selected snapshot is shown below the search application 301.

A user can move forward or backward through the book timeline 800 using the controls 307 a-b. For example, if a user selects the control 307 a, a previous snapshot 802 can be selected and be made visible on the right side of the book 800 and if a user selects the control 307 b, the current page can be moved onto the snapshot 802, revealing a next snapshot 804 at the end of the book 800. Alternatively, a user can select the snapshot 802 (or the snapshot 804) directly using a pointing device.

In certain implementations, the movement of the snapshots can be animated. For example, the movement of the current page to the left side of the book 800 can be shown, revealing the next snapshot 804. In addition, a page on the left side of the book 800 can be shown turning to the right side of the book 800, revealing the previous snapshot 802.

In other implementations, the snapshots can be presented in other formats. For example, the snapshots can be presented in a format similar to a rolodex. When the user navigates to prior snapshots in the stack of snapshots it appears as if the snapshots “cards” have been flipped forward like a rolodex. Animations can be included to show this flipping motion of snapshots. In another implementation, snapshots can be presented in a circular wheel or spiral array. The snapshots can spiral into a vanishing point in the distance, becoming smaller with perceived depth. The user can navigate down the spiral to view particular snapshots. Animation can be generated to show movement down the spiral.

FIGS. 9-14 are screen shots depicting an example of a snapshot animation timeline. Referring to FIG. 9, initially snapshots 900 are arranged vertically toward a vanishing point near the top center of the animation screen. This gives the viewer the impression that the stack of snapshots 900 is three-dimensional and extends into the rear of the display. In certain implementations, such as in this example, the animation screen includes a background such as a star field, where the vanishing point is a swirling cloud of interstellar gas and dust. In this example, the snapshots each provide a visual representation corresponding to a file system.

A user can move forward or backward through the snapshots 900 using controls 902 a-b. For example, if a user selects the control 902 a, a previous snapshot 904 can be selected and brought to the front of the stack of snapshots 900. If on the other hand, a user selects the control 902 b, a next snapshot, if present (not shown), can be selected and brought to the front of the stack of snapshots 900. Alternatively, a user can select the snapshot 904 directly with a pointing device.

A “show changed items only” control 906 can allow a user to select whether or not snapshots without changed items will be presented. The presence or absence of changes can be determined relative to a currently selected snapshot or a current snapshot. Alternatively, snapshot changes are determined relative to adjacent snapshots. A “done” control 908 allows a user to select when the animation timeline will exit and return, for example, to the previously executed application.

A “show timeline” control 910 allows a user to initiate an animation that transitions from the frontal perspective shown here to a side perspective timeline view. That is, the timeline will appear to perform a rotation in three-dimensional space to let the viewer see the timeline from the side rather than from the front. Here, the vanishing point will move to the left side of the animation screen and the windows representing the snapshots will become “milestone markers” on a timeline.

FIG. 10 shows the animation of the timeline at a point in the animation when the timeline has started to rotate to the side view. The snapshot thumbnail icons gradually shrink in their transition to the milestone marker symbols. In certain implementations, a user can navigate backward and forward through the snapshots as the animation is proceeding. Alternatively, the animation can pause during navigation through the snapshots. In one implementation, the snapshots are rendered partially transparent, as shown in FIG. 10, allowing a user to see some contents of a snapshot through the snapshot in front of it.

In one implementation, as the animation progresses, some controls are animated to gradually disappear, such as the “show timeline” control 910, the “show changed items only” control 906, the “done” control 908, the “restore file” control 316, and the navigation controls 902 a-b. Other controls can gradually materialize such as navigation controls 1002 a-b, a “hide timeline” control 1004 (not shown in FIG. 10), and a new “done” control 1006 (not shown in FIG. 10). The “hide timeline” control 1004 materializes in the same location as the “show timeline” control 910. Likewise, the new “done” control 1006 materializes in the same location as the “restore file” control 316. At the intermediate stage shown in FIG. 10, the overlapping controls are rendered partially transparent. The materializing and disappearing can be coordinated with the animation of the timeline.

FIG. 11 shows the animation of the timeline at a further point in the animation after the vanishing point of the snapshots has moved to the upper left corner of the animation screen, providing a rotation of the stack. In one implementation, as the animation progresses, a time (e.g., dates 1100 or hours) gradually materializes above the snapshots, where the displayed time is associated with a particular snapshot.

FIG. 12 shows the continued animation of the timeline after the vanishing point of the snapshots has moved about half way to the middle of the left side of the animation screen. In one implementation, a line 1200 emphasizing the timeline begins to materialize, while the snapshots have decreased in size as the perspective moves to a side view of the timeline.

FIG. 13 shows the continued animation of the timeline. The “show timeline” control 910, the “show changed items only” control 906, the “done” control 908, the “restore file” control 316, and the navigation controls 902 a-b are less visible, while the navigation controls 1002 a-b, the “hide timeline” control 1004, and the new “done” control 1006 are more visible than in previous figures that correspond to earlier points in the animation. In certain implementations, a control is selectable by a user when the control fully materializes. For example, when the navigation controls 1002 a-b materialize, they allow a user to navigate to snapshots to the left and to the right in the timeline.

FIG. 14 shows the animation of the timeline after the vanishing point of the snapshots has moved to the middle of the left side of the animation screen. The perspective of the timeline 1400 is now that of a side view. The “show timeline” control 910, the “show changed items only” control 906, and the “restore file” control 316 are no longer displayed. The vertical navigation controls 902 a-b have completely dissolved, while the line 1200, the dates 1100, the “hide timeline” control 1004, and the new “done” control 1006 have completely materialized. A user can select the “hide timeline” control 1004 to hide the timeline 1400 and the line 1200. In one implementation, selection of the “hide timeline” control 1004 returns the user to the stack view, e.g., as shown in FIG. 9.

A milestone mark and a date above the line 1200 now represent each snapshot. A user can select a milestone mark or use the navigation controls 1002 a-b to move backward or forward through the snapshots, respectively. In one implementation, a user can select a particular milestone mark and be presented with the snapshot image (e.g., a visual representation of a file system, application search interface, or other snapshot data) corresponding to that milestone mark. In another implementation, the user can zoom in on or zoom out of the timeline, or a portion of the timeline, in order to view milestone marks at a greater level of granularity. In one implementation, the user interface provides one or more zoom controls allowing the user to manipulate the scale of all or a portion of the timeline 1400.

The timeline 1400 or the other timelines 302, 600, 700, and 800 can employ additional animations. For example, as an item is restored, an animation of the item returning to the current system state can be performed. In another example, where several items are restored, a generic animation can be played, such as a cloud of particles moving from the backup user interface 300 or the timelines 600, 700, 800, and 1400 to the current system state. In certain implementations, the animation management engine 234 performs animation actions, such as those already described.

The backup user interface 300 or the timelines 600, 700, 800, and 1400 can employ an animation during a launching or exiting procedure. For example, a desktop user interface of the current system state can gradually blend into the backup user interface 300 or vice versa. FIGS. 15-27 illustrate two additional examples of animation during a launching procedure of a timeline.

FIGS. 15-22 are screen shots depicting an example of a slider animation during a launching and exiting procedure of a backup user interface. Referring to FIG. 15, a desktop user interface 1500 is initially displayed with a number of windows representing, for example, active applications or open file systems navigation interfaces. In this example, a current version of a file system 1502 is displayed in a window in the forefront of the desktop user interface 1500. When a user selects the window with the file system 1502 as the active window, the user can launch the backup user interface by, for example, selecting a backup option from a menu of the desktop user interface 1500 or using an icon or menu item in the active window.

FIG. 16 shows the slider animation of the launching procedure at an early point in the animation of transitioning to the backup user interface when a representation of the desktop user interface 1500 gradually begins to slide out of the view of the screen. That is, a decreasing portion of the desktop user interface 1500 is displayed in the view, with the lower portion of the representation of the desktop user interface 1500 disappearing from the view first. All inactive windows displayed in the desktop user interface 1500 also begin to slide out of view with the representation of the desktop user interface 1500. However, the active window with the current version of the file system 1502 does not slide from the view. In some implementations, the representation of the desktop user interface 1500 slides from the view along the top side, along the left side, or along the right side of the display.

As the representation of the desktop user interface 1500 slides from the view, the newly exposed portion of the view displays a background 1600 for the backup user interface. In some implementations, such as in this example, the animation screen includes a background such as a star field. In some representations, the background 1600 includes a calendar 1602 on a side of the screen, where the calendar 1602 includes tick marks representing days of the months. In some implementations, the tick marks represent time periods of higher granularity (e.g., hours) or lower granularity (e.g., weeks). In alternative implementations, the tick marks represent individual snapshots.

FIG. 17 shows the slider animation at a later point in the launching procedure when only the top half portion of the representation of the desktop user interface 1500 is still displayed on the screen. The window with the current version of the file system 1502 remains in the center of the screen as a greater portion of the backup user interface background 1600 is displayed. In some implementations, if the active window was not positioned generally in the center of the screen, the sliding animation includes animation of the active window sliding to the center of the display.

FIG. 18 shows the slider animation at a further point in the launching procedure. At this point, a stack of snapshots 900 begins to appear in the backup user interface. In this example, the snapshots provide earlier versions of the file system 1502. The snapshots 900 are arranged in a cascading stack toward a vanishing point near the top center of the backup user interface, giving the viewer the impression that the backup user interface is three-dimensional. A user can move forward or backward through the snapshots 900, for example, using navigation controls 1800 a-b. Alternatively, a user can select one of the displayed snapshots 900 directly, e.g., with an input device (e.g., a mouse cursor). In some implementations, a user can select a snapshot for a particular day, regardless of whether the particular day is represented by one of the displayed snapshots 900, by selecting the corresponding tick mark of the calendar 1602.

FIG. 19 shows the slider animation at a point that is almost at the end of the launching procedure. Very little of the representation of the desktop user interface 1500 is still displayed in the view. The sliding representation of the desktop user interface 1500 begins to reveal a control bar 1900 near the bottom of the backup user interface.

FIG. 20 shows the slider animation after the launching procedure has completed. The backup user interface now displays the snapshots 900, the calendar 1602, the navigation controls 1800 a-b, and the complete control bar 1900 on the background 1600. The control bar 1900 includes a number of controls including, for example, a “cancel” control 2000, a “hide unchanged” control 2002, a “restore all” control 2006, and a “restore file” control 2008. The control bar 1900 can also include a date display 2004, which displays the date of the topmost snapshot of snapshots 900.

A “hide unchanged” control 2002 can allow a user to select whether or not snapshots without changed items will be presented in the backup user interface. In some implementations, the “hide unchanged” control 2002 can be toggled to display a “show changed items only” control. A “restore all” control 2006 can allow a user to restore the current file system state with all the files or items in a currently selected snapshot. A “restore file” control 2008, when selected, restores the current file system with only the one or more selected files or items in a currently selected snapshot. A “cancel” control 2000 can allow the user to cancel the restoration of one or more files or items. In some implementations, canceling a restoration will also lead to exiting the backup user interface and returning, for example, to the desktop user interface 1500.

FIG. 21 shows the slider animation of the exiting procedure at a point in the animation when the representation of the desktop user interface 1500 has begun to slide back into the view of the screen. The slider animation of the exiting procedure works in reverse of the slider animation of the launching procedure. That is, an increasing portion of the representation of the desktop user interface 1500 is displayed in the view, with the upper portion of the representation appearing in the view first. The representation of the desktop user interface 1500 gradually appearing in the view includes all the inactive windows previously displayed in the interface before the launching procedure began.

FIG. 22 shows the slider animation after the exiting procedure has completed. The backup user interface has been completely replaced by the desktop user interface 1500. If the user initiated restoration of any files or items from an earlier version of the file system, the window with the current version of the file system 1502 will now include the restored files. If the user did not initiate a restoration, or if the user cancelled all initiated restorations, the screen will appear as it did prior to the execution of the launching procedure.

FIGS. 23-27 are screen shots depicting an example of a vortex animation during a launching procedure of a backup user interface. Referring to FIG. 23, initially a desktop user interface 2300 is displayed with a window of a current version of a file system 2302. A user can launch the backup user interface by, for example, selecting a backup option from a menu of the desktop user interface 2300 or using an icon or menu item in the active window.

FIG. 24 shows the vortex animation of the launching procedure at an early point in the animation when the representation of the desktop user interface 2300 gradually begins to shrink, shift, and rotate. This gives the viewer the impression that the desktop user interface 2300 is being pulled back into a vortex (not shown) at the rear of the display. The window of the file system 2302 also begins to shrink, shift, and rotate relative to its pre-launch position on the screen. However, the movement of the window of the file system 2302 is not completely coordinated with the movement of the representation of the desktop user interface 2300. That is, the position of the window of the file system 2302 changes relative to the position of the representation of the desktop user interface 2300. This relative movement becomes more apparent at later points in the vortex animation. In some implementations, the movement of the window of the file system 2302 is completely coordinated with the movement of the representation of the desktop user interface 2300, such that the position and orientation of the window is constant in the representation of the desktop user interface 2300. In some implementations, animation configurations with different speed, rotation, etc. are possible.

As the representation of the desktop user interface 2300 and the window of the file system 2302 shrink and move in the display, the newly exposed portion of the screen displays the background 2400 for the backup user interface. In some implementations, the animation screen includes a background such as a star field.

FIG. 25 shows the vortex animation of the launching procedure at a point in the animation when the vortex 2500 is visible in the background 2400. The vortex appears as a white region in the center of the screen with light spots and rays swirling towards the vortex 2500, giving the impression that objects and light are being pulled in a spiral fashion into the vortex 2500. The representation of the desktop user interface 2300 and the window of the file system 2302 appear to be decreasing in size, with perceived depth, and spiraling towards the vortex 2500. The window of the file system 2302 appears to separate from the representation of the underlying desktop user interface 2300. That is, the window is no longer constrained as a window within the desktop user interface 2300. In some implementations, the window of the file system 2302 is rendered partially transparent, as shown in FIG. 25, allowing a user to see some contents of the desktop user interface 2300 through the window in front of it.

FIGS. 26-27 show the vortex animation of the launching procedure at further points in the animation. In FIG. 26, the representation of the desktop user interface 2300 and the window of the file system 2302 become progressively smaller and appear to be drawn towards the vortex 2500. FIG. 27 shows the vortex animation at a point that is almost at the end of the launching procedure. The representation of the desktop user interface 2300 and the window of the file system 2302 are about to disappear into the vortex 2500.

In some implementations, the completion of the vortex animation of the launching procedure is followed by the display of a backup user interface. For example, the backup user interface of FIG. 9 or FIG. 20 could be presented to the user after the completion of the vortex animation.

FIG. 28 is a screen shot depicting an example of a stack of snapshots 900 in a backup user interface with a date overlay 2800. This screen shot is similar to the screen shot of FIG. 20 with the addition of a date overlay 2800. The date overlay 2800 can display, for example, the same date information as the date display 2004 of the control bar 1900 (i.e., the date associated with the currently selected snapshot or the current snapshot). The date displayed in the date overlay 2800 can represent, for example, the date of the backup operation corresponding to the snapshot. In some implementations, the date overlay 2800 can display a range of dates. In some implementations, the date overlay 2800 can display date information of a higher granularity (e.g., the hour of the day) or a lower granularity (e.g., the week). The date overlay 2800 allows a user to see the snapshot date while viewing the snapshot without the user needing to look down at the date display 2004 at the bottom of the screen.

In some implementations, the date display 2004 of the control bar 1900 is not displayed when the date overlay 2800 is displayed. In some implementations, the date overlay 2800 can be rendered partially transparent, allowing a user to view some contents of the snapshot through the overlay. In alternative implementations, the date overlay 2800 can fade out over time. For example, when navigating between snapshots, the date overlay 2800 can fade away so as not to obstruct a view of the contents of a snapshot.

FIG. 29 is a screen shot depicting an example of a stack of snapshots 900 in a backup user interface including a calendar sidebar 2900. This screen shot is similar to the screen shot of FIG. 9 with the addition of the calendar sidebar 2900 in place of or in addition to navigation arrows. In some implementations, the calendar sidebar 2900 includes scrolling arrows 2902 a-b that allow the user to scroll the view of the calendar to dates before or after the dates presently displayed in the view in the calendar sidebar 2900. The date of the currently selected snapshot or the current snapshot can be indicated, for example, by the highlighting of the corresponding date on the calendar sidebar 2900. In the example, the current snapshot displayed has an associated date of May 4, 2006, as indicated by the highlighted date 2904 in the calendar sidebar 2900. In some implementations, the calendar sidebar 2900 can show dates of different levels of granularity, e.g., one or more months, weeks, days, hours, etc.

In some implementations, a user can select the date of a snapshot to display by selecting the corresponding date on the calendar sidebar 2900 with, for example, a pointing device. Alternatively, a user can select a displayed snapshot (e.g., snapshot 904) directly with a pointing device. In some implementations, the calendar sidebar 2900 is displayed at a different position on the screen, e.g., along the left side, along the top, or along the bottom of the screen.

In the above description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that implementations can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the disclosure.

In particular, one skilled in the art will recognize that other architectures and graphics environments can be used, and that the examples can be implemented using graphics tools and products other than those described above. In particular, the client/server approach is merely one example of an architecture for providing the functionality described herein; one skilled in the art will recognize that other, non-client/server approaches can also be used. Some portions of the detailed description are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to convey most effectively the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is conceived here, and generally, to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the discussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as “processing” or “computing” or “calculating” or “determining” or “displaying” or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

An apparatus for performing the operations herein can be specially constructed for the required purposes, or it can comprise a general-purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program can be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but is not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, and magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, and each coupled to a computer system bus.

The algorithms and modules presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general-purpose systems can be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it can prove convenient to construct more specialized apparatuses to perform the method steps. The required structure for a variety of these systems will appear from the description. In addition, the present examples are not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages can be used to implement the teachings as described herein. Furthermore, as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art, the modules, features, attributes, methodologies, and other aspects can be implemented as software, hardware, firmware or any combination of the three. Of course, wherever a component is implemented as software, the component can be implemented as a standalone program, as part of a larger program, as a plurality of separate programs, as a statically or dynamically linked library, as a kernel loadable module, as a device driver, and/or in every and any other way known now or in the future to those of skill in the art of computer programming. Additionally, the present description is in no way limited to implementation in any specific operating system or environment.

It will be understood by those skilled in the relevant art that the above-described implementations are merely exemplary, and many changes can be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications that come within the true spirit and scope of this invention. 

1. A method comprising: receiving, while a current view of a graphical user interface including at least a first user interface window is displayed, a first user input requesting that a backup interface be displayed; animating, in response to the first user input, a transition from displaying the current view of the graphical user interface to displaying the backup interface, the animating including sliding the backup interface into view while decreasing the display of the graphical user interface; displaying the backup interface, the backup interface including a display area for presenting at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the first user interface window the earlier version including a first element, the backup interface being different from the graphical user interface; receiving, while the backup interface is displayed, a second user input requesting that the current view of the first user interface window be modified according to the first visual representation of the earlier version of the first user interface window, at least with regard to the first element; and modifying, in response to the second user input, the current view of the first user interface window according to the earlier version, at least with regard to the first element.
 2. The method of claim 1, where animating the transition from displaying the current view of the graphical user interface to displaying the backup interface further comprises: animating a sliding of the graphical user interface by simultaneously displaying decreasing portions of a representation of the graphical user interface while displaying increasing portions of a representation of the backup interface.
 3. The method of claim 2, where the current view of the graphical user interface is not animated to slide with the backup interface.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying the modified current view in the graphical user interface, the modified current view including the first interface window including the first element from the visual representation of the earlier version.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: animating the transition from displaying the backup interface to displaying the modified current view in the graphical user interface.
 6. A method comprising: defining criteria for capturing a state of a view for a user interface window; capturing the state of the view in accordance with the criteria; receiving a prompt to suspend presentation of a current view of the user interface window and present a captured view of the user interface window; animating a transition from presenting the current view of the user interface window to presenting the captured view of the user interface window, the animating including animating a sliding of a graphical user interface by simultaneously displaying decreasing portions of a representation of the graphical user interface while displaying increasing portions of a representation of a backup interface; presenting the captured view of the user interface window in the backup interface, the backup interface including a display area for presenting a first visual representation of the user interface window and one or more second visual representations of the user interface window, the first visual representation of the user interface window corresponding to a current version of a current view of the user interface window, each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window corresponding to an earlier version of the current view of the user interface window; and reinstating data for the captured view of the user interface window into the current view of the user interface window.
 7. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a machine-readable storage device, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, generate on a display device a graphical user interface comprising: a display area for presenting a first visual representation of a user interface window and one or more second visual representations of the user interface window in a stack, the first visual representation of the user interface window corresponding to a current version of a current view of the user interface window, each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window corresponding to an earlier version of the current view of the user interface window, and where each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window are at least partially visible in the stack; a calendar with a plurality of date ranges, each version of the current view of the user interface window being associated with a particular date range of the plurality of date ranges; and an input control for initiating a restoration of the current view according to at least a portion of an earlier version.
 8. The computer program product of claim 7, where each earlier version includes at least a first element that a user can select, and wherein initiation of the input control after the selection initiates the restoration of the current view according to only the first element of the earlier version.
 9. The computer program product of claim 7, where an earlier version is selectable in response to a user input of the associated date range.
 10. The computer program product of claim 7, where each date range is a single date.
 11. The computer program product of claim 7, where each date range is represented by a tick mark in the calendar.
 12. The computer program product of claim 7, where the graphical user interface further includes one or more scroll bars for scrolling through the plurality of date ranges, including scrolling to additional date ranges not initially shown in the calendar.
 13. The computer program product of claim 7, where the graphical user interface further includes another input control for modifying the display area to present only at least one of the second visual representations whose corresponding earlier version differs from the current version of the current view.
 14. The computer program product of claim 7, where the graphical user interface further includes arrow buttons for scrolling to additional visual representations of earlier versions not initially shown in the display area.
 15. The computer program product of claim 7, where the graphical user interface further includes another input control for canceling a restoration of the current view.
 16. The computer program product of claim 7, where the display area presents the visual representations as a stack of snapshots.
 17. The computer program product of claim 16, where the graphical user interface further includes a date display, the date display displaying a date range associated with a version corresponding to a visual representation at the front of the stack.
 18. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a machine-readable storage device, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, generate on a display device a graphical user interface comprising: a display area for presenting a first visual representation of a user interface window and one or more second visual representations of the user interface window, the visual representations of the user interface window presented as a stack, one visual representation in the stack corresponding to a current version of a current view of the user interface window, each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window in the stack corresponding to an earlier version of the current view of the user interface window and where each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window are at least partially visible in the stack; a date display overlay, the date display overlay displayed in proximity to a visual representation of the user interface window at the front of the stack, the date display overlay displaying a date range associated with a version corresponding to the visual representation at the front of the stack; and an input control for initiating a restoration of the current view of the user interface window according to at least a portion of an earlier version of the user interface window.
 19. The computer program product of claim 18, where the date display overlay fades over time.
 20. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising receiving user input to navigate between visual representations of the user interface window in the stack such that a particular visual representation in the stack is a top most visual representation.
 21. A system comprising: one or more processors configured to interact with a machine-readable storage device to perform operations including: receiving, while a current view of a graphical user interface including at least a first user interface window is displayed, a first user input requesting that a backup interface be displayed; animating, in response to the first user input, a transition from displaying the current view of the graphical user interface to displaying the backup interface, the animating including sliding the backup interface into view while decreasing the display of the graphical user interface; displaying the backup interface, the backup interface including a display area for presenting at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the first user interface window the earlier version including a first element, the backup interface being different from the graphical user interface; receiving, while the backup interface is displayed, a second user input requesting that the current view of the first user interface window be modified according to the first visual representation of the earlier version of the first user interface window, at least with regard to the first element; and modifying, in response to the second user input, the current view of the first user interface window according to the earlier version, at least with regard to the first element.
 22. A system comprising: one or more processors configured to interact with a machine-readable storage device to perform operations including: defining criteria for capturing a state of a view for a user interface window; capturing the state of the view in accordance with the criteria; receiving a prompt to suspend presentation of a current view of the user interface window and present a captured view of the user interface window; animating a transition from presenting the current view of the user interface window to presenting the captured view of the user interface window, the animating including animating a sliding of a graphical user interface by simultaneously displaying decreasing portions of a representation of the graphical user interface while displaying increasing portions of a representation of a backup interface; presenting the captured view of the user interface window in the backup interface, the backup interface including a display area for presenting a first visual representation of the user interface window and one or more second visual representations of the user interface window, the first visual representation of the user interface window corresponding to a current version of a current view of the user interface window, each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window corresponding to an earlier version of the current view of the user interface window; and reinstating data for the captured view of the user interface window into the current view of the user interface window.
 23. A system comprising: one or more processors configured to interact with a machine-readable storage device to perform operations including displaying a graphical user interface comprising: a display area for presenting a first visual representation of a user interface window and one or more second visual representations of the user interface window in a stack, the first visual representation of the user interface window corresponding to a current version of a current view of the user interface window, each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window corresponding to an earlier version of the current view of the user interface window, and where each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window are at least partially visible in the stack; a calendar with a plurality of date ranges, each version of the current view of the user interface window being associated with a particular date range of the plurality of date ranges; and an input control for initiating a restoration of the current view according to at least a portion of an earlier version.
 24. A system comprising: one or more processors configured to interact with a machine-readable storage device to perform operations including displaying a graphical user interface comprising: a display area for presenting a first visual representation of a user interface window and one or more second visual representations of the user interface window in a stack, the visual representations of the user interface window presented as a stack, one visual representation in the stack corresponding to a current version of a current view of the user interface window, each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window in the stack corresponding to an earlier version of the current view of the user interface window, and where each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window are at least partially visible in the stack; a date display overlay, the date display overlay displayed in proximity to a visual representation of the user interface window at the front of the stack, the date display overlay displaying a date range associated with a version corresponding to the visual representation at the front of the stack; and an input control for initiating a restoration of the current view of the user interface window according to at least a portion of an earlier version of the user interface window.
 25. A method comprising: receiving, while a current view of a graphical user interface including at least a first user interface window is displayed, a first user input requesting that a backup interface be displayed; animating, in response to the first user input, a transition from displaying the current view of the graphical user interface to displaying the backup interface, the animating including sliding the backup interface into view while decreasing the display of the graphical user interface without changing the display of the current view; and displaying the backup interface, the backup interface including a display area for presenting at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the first user interface window, the earlier version including a first element, the backup interface being different from the graphical user interface.
 26. A method comprising: receiving, while a current view of a graphical user interface including at least a first user interface window is displayed, a first user input requesting that a backup interface be displayed; animating, in response to the first user input, a transition from displaying the current view of the graphical user interface to displaying the backup interface, the animating including animating the disappearance of the current view of the graphical user interface and the first user interface window into a vortex including animating a representation of the graphical user interface to move independently of a representation of the first user interface window; and displaying the backup interface, the backup interface including a display area for presenting at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the first user interface window, the earlier version including a first element, the backup interface being different from the graphical user interface. 